Loose leaf binders

ABSTRACT

A loose leaf binder is provided which incorporates two covers hingedly connected to an outer curved spine and a flat inner spine by means of peripheral welds. Paper retaining means are provided on the inner spine and at least one portion of the outer spine is removable to form a window through which a label inserted between the outer and inner spines is visible. The removable portion is defined by line welds produced during production of the peripheral welds.

United States Patent [1 1 Lawes 1 LOOSE LEAF BINDERS [76] lnventor: Michael John Anthony Lawes, 11

Jew St., Brighton, Sussex, England 22 Filed: June 8,1972

21 Appl. No.: 261,005

[52] US. Cl 402/3, 281/31, 281/45, 283/64 {51] Int. Cl B421 21/02 [58] Field of Search 402/3, 73, 74, 75, 76. 402/77, 78; 281/1, 29, 36, 37, 30, 31, 32, 35,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1925 Sheridan ct a1 281/29 6/1926 Havemeyer 40/158 R 4/1941 Cooper et a1. 281/36 [451 June 4,1974

Schude 281/29 White 402/3 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner.l. H. Wolff Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoylance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul [57] ABSTRACT A loose leaf binder is provided which incorporates two covers hingedly connected to an outer curved spine and a flat inner spine by means of peripheral welds. Paper retaining means are provided on the inner spine and at least one portion of the outer spine is removable to form a window through which a label inserted between the outer and inner spines is visible. The removable portion is defined by line welds produced during production of the peripheral welds.

13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure LOOSE LEAF BHNDERS This invention relates to loose leaf binders and provides an improvement in, or modification of, the invention forming the subject matter of United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 1,243,752 (Cognate Applications Nos. 35453/70 and 60352/70), hereinafter referred to as the parent Specification. The binder claimed in claims 1 to 24 of the parent Specification comprises a loose leaf binder that includes two covers which are hingeable with respect to its outer curved spine, and has an inner flat spine that is hingedly connected to the covers by means of welds extending substantially along the hinge lines between the covers and the outer spine. Paper retaining means are provided on the inner spine.

The covers may consist of a board, such as cardboard or a rigid synthetic resin material having properties similar to those of cardboard, and the board may be covered on the outside or enclosed with a flexible weldable material, which may be a synthetic resin material such as polyvinyl chloride sheeting. Likewise, the covers may consist of a board that is enclosed between two sheets of weldable material, one of which is flexible and the other of which is semi-rigid, i.e., it has a rigidity greater than that of the flexible weldable material, but less than that of board. The semi-rigid weldable material may be a synthetic resin material, such as polyvinyl chloride with a low plasticizer content. The outer spine may consist, at least partially, of flexible, weldable material. Likewise, the outer spine may consist of or include semi-rigid, weldable material. Thus, the outer spine may include a strip of semi-rigid weldable material enclosed in flexible weldable material.

Thus, the two boards comprising the covers, and the intermediate strip (outer spine) may be enclosed between two continuous sheets of flexible material, or the two boards may be enclosed between a first continuous sheet of flexible material and a second continuous sheet of semi-rigid material, with the outer spine being constituted solely by the flexible and semi-rigid materials.

A plurality of welds may be provided between the flexible and semi-rigid materials, with each weld extending substantially across the width of the outer spine. The welds are spaced along the length of the spine.

According to one embodiment, the inner spine may consist of a strip of board enclosed in flexible weldable material with the width of the material being greater than that of the strip board so that flexible hinge portions are produced along the two longitudinal edges of the strip. Welds may extend along the hinge lines to unite the respective hinge portions with the covers. Hinge like welds may unite the flexible material and the semi-rigid material enclosing the covers and the flexible material enclosing the inner spine. Likewise, each of the hinge-like welds may unite the flexible material enclosing the covers, the strip of semi-rigid material and the flexible material enclosing the inner spine. The hinge-like welds may be non-continuous.

The paper-retaining means that is provided on the inner spine may be in the form of a ring or post binder mechanism riveted to the inner spine, or may be constituted by a plurality of longitudinal strips each having a longidudinally extending slot, the walls of which surround the inner spine. The slots may be parallel, and the strips may be formed from a resilient synthetic resin. The strips may be generally rectangular, but having one comer of each end of the strip being curved.

In the parent Specification, it is stated that a recess may be provided in the outer spine for the accommodation of a label and it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative method of securing a label so that it is visible from the rear of the binder.

From one aspect, the invention consists in a binder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 24 of the parent Specification, wherein at least one portion of said outer spine is removable to form a window through which a label or indicia bearing strip inserted between the outer and inner spines is visible.

The removable portion defines an enclosed segment which is characterized by a peripheral line of weakness, so that the enclosed segment can be readily removed to form a window, and is preferably defined by one or more additional line welds produced duirng the production of the peripheral weld extending around the two covers. The additional line weld or welds surrounds or surround a closed area and, if the weld or welds is or are made sufficiently deep, for example, of substantially the same depth as the peripheral weld, the portion enclosed by the weld or welds can readily be removed by manual pressure. A label or the like can then be inserted from one end of the binder between the inner and outer spines until the desired legend on the label appears in the window formed by the removal of said portion. It is to be understood that the weld or welds will have joined togetherthe various pieces of material constituting the outer spine so that there is a neat, closed periphery to the window.

Preferably, the width of the label is greater than that of the inner spine so that the label assumes a curved formation corresponding to the curvature of the outer spine. This dimensioning of the label also ensures that it remains in position between the inner and outer spines. Preferably, the window does not extend across the full width of the outer spine and any substantial portions at the outer edges extending precisely parallel to the hinge lines should be avoided. Ideally, the window is in the form of a circle or a diamond arrangedso that there are no portions precisely parallel to the hinge lines. If the said edges of the window are made parallel to the hinge lines, it is found that the material is liable to turn outwards to spoil the appearance of the window. A method of manufacturing a loose leaf binder is recited in claims 25 to 36 of the parent Specification. Accordingly, the method involves enclosing two spaced boards in a weldable material to form two covers that are hingeable with respect to an outer spine consisting of at least partially of the weldable material. A flat strip is enclosed in flexible weldable material and is provided with paper-retaining means, and the strip is hingedly connected to the covers by means of welds extending substantially along the lines of the adjacent edges of the boards. The width of the flat spine is less than that of the outer spine so that the outer spine tends to assume an outwardly curved shape.

Thus, a first sheet of flexible weldable material is laid on a flat surface and two boards are placed side by side thereon with a strip of semi-rigid material between them. The boards and the strip are covered by a further sheet of flexible material and are enclosed between the two sheets by high-frequency welding around the periphery of the boards. Portions of the welds serve to unite the two sheets of flexible material and the strip of semi-rigid material between the boards. Alternatively, a first sheet of weldable material may be laid on a flat surface and two boards placed side by side thereon. The boards are covered by a second sheet of weldable material and are enclosed between the two sheets by high-frequency welding with one of the sheets consisting of flexible material and the other of semi-rigid material.

During the high-frequency welding, a plurality ofline welds are produced between the flexible and semi-rigid materials with each weld extending substantially across the width of the outer spine and the welds being spaced along the length of the spine.

During the high-frequency welding a plurality of line welds are produced between the flexible and semi-rigid materials and the line welds extend parallel to the length of the outer spine. Also the high-frequency welding, at least one sunken panel may be welded into the outer spine. t

The inner spine may be made by enclosing a strip of board between two strips of flexible weldable material by the production of welds along all four edges of the strip. The two strips of flexible material are of a greater width than the strip of board so that two flexible hinged portions each consisting of two layers of flexible material are produced along each side of the inner spine. Preferably, the paper-retaining means are attached to the inner spine before the inner spine is welded to the covers. The welds securing the inner spine to the covers unite the two flexible hinged portions of the inner spine, the two sheets of flexible material enclosing the covers and the strip of resilient material.

The welding of the inner spine to the covers may be carried out on a jig locating the inner spine and with edge locating means forcing the two covers together so that the outer spine is caused to assume a curved shape within a channel forming part of the welding electrode tool. Lettering, or a pattern, may be printed on the covers and the outer spine before the inner spine is welded to the covers.

From another aspect, the invention consists in a method of manufacturing a loose leaf binder as claimed in any of claims 25 to 36 of the parent Specification, wherein at least one additional line weld is produced to unite the materials of the outer spine around a closed area and thus to form a removable window in said outer spine.

Preferably, said line weld or welds is or are produced during the operation in which the two spaced boards are enclosed in weldable material by the production of a peripheral weld. The electrode by means of which the additional line weld or welds is or are produced is substantially flush with the electrodeor electrodes producing the peripheral weld, but is somewhat proud of any electrodes used to produce decorative welds on the outer spine. in this way, a thin line of united material is produced around the window which can easily be broken by manual pressure.

It is to be understood that, by using a method in accordance with the invention, it is possible to produce removable windows in the outer spine of a binder without the necessity for a separate manufacturing operation as would be required, for example, if a pocket for the label were to be provided on the outside of the spine.

Preferably, the. label is printed on a strip of card or like semi-rigid material which can be inserted from the window. It is, of course, to be understood that, if morethan one legend is required, the appropriate number of windows will be provided.

in order to improve the appearance of the spine, a number of additional line welds may be produced at the same time as those forming the windows, said additional line welds being of the same form as .the Windows.

The removable portions may be pressed out at any convenient stage of manufacture, or they may be left in position for optional removal by the user.

One method of performing the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which is a perspective view of a part of a loose leaf binder in accordance with the invention, with the covers substantially closed.

The binder illustrated in the drawing is similar to that illustrated in F lGS. 4 and 5 of the parent Specification except that provision is made for the formation of two circular windows in the outer spine so that labels inserted between the outer and inner spines are visible fromthe rear of the binder. It will be seen that, as in the case of the binder illustrated in the said FIGS. 4 and 5, the binder includes two'covers l and 2 joined by an outer curved spine 3 and an inner flat spine 4. However, the binder illustrated differs from that shown in the parent Specification in that the outer curved spine is provided with two windows 5 and 6. A label 7, which consists of card or semi-rigid synthetic resin material, is inserted between the inner and outer spines so that the letters VOL appear in the window 5 and a further label 8 is shown in the process of being inserted between the inner and outer spines by being pushed in the direction of the arrow 11, so that a portion of this label will be visible in the window 6. The material of the outer spine within the periphery of the window 7 has already been removed, but the material of the window 6 is shown at 9 in the process of being removed by being pulled in the direction of the arrow 10.

ltwill be seen that the width of the label 11 is greater than the width of the inner spine 4 so that the label is constrained to take up a curved shape corresponding to the curvature of the outer spine 3. v

The windows 5 and 6 are preferably formed by the apparatus illustrated in FlGURE l of the parent Specification. As described in the parent Specification, peripheral line welds 26 and 27 are produced by the press 24 when the components are located under the press. In accordance with the present invention, the press is provided with additional electrodes which serve to form the peripheries of the two windows 5 and 6. These additional electrodes project to substantially the same extent as the electrodes used for producing the peripheral welds 26 and 27"so that not only are the three component parts of the spine united together around the periphery of each window but, in addition, a ring of very thin material is produced so that the circular portion as illustrated at 9 in the accompanying drawing, is readily removed. i

In addition to the two circular windows 5 and 6, four 7 additional circles 12, 13, 14 and 15 are produced on of the spine to the other. All these decorative welds are produced during the initial manufacturing process in which the peripheral welds and the additional welds for the windows are produced. The electrodes used for producing the decorative welds are, of course, slightly recessed relative to the electrodes used for making the deeper welds which enable the material to be readily torn along the weld lines.

It is to be understood that, if the label 7 consists of transparent, semi-rigid synthetic resin material, the lettering can be printed on the side remote from the window so that it is protected by the transparent material when the label is in position.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer curved spine, two covers hingedly connected thereto, a flat inner spine, connecting means hingedly connecting said inner spine to said covers, said connecting means being welds extending substantially along the hinge lines and between said covers and said outer spine, paper-retaining means disposed on said inner spine, and at least one portion of said outer spine defining an enclosed segment which is characterized by a peripheral line of weakness, so that said enclosed segment can be readily removed to form a window through which a subadjacent indicia bearing strip inserted between said outer and inner spines is visible.

2. A binder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable enclosed segment is defined by at least one line weld in the outer spine, said line weld surrounding a closed area.

3. A binder as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral weld extends around said two covers and said line weld is of substantially the same depth as said peripheral weld.

4. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of removable enclosed segments having the same dimensions.

5. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of removable enclosed segments, said segments being vertically spaced from each other such that each segment is wholly apart from the other segments.

6. A binder as claimed in claim 5 wherein said removable enclosed segments all have the same dimensions.

7. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer spine consists of semi-rigid weldable material enclosed in flexible weldable material, said line weld having joined together said material constituting the outer spine.

8. A binder as described in claim 1. wherein the width of the indicia bearing strip is greater than that of the inner spine so that said strip assumes a curved formation corresponding to the curvature of the outer spine.

9. A binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is in the form of a circle.

10. A binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exterior of said covers and inner spine is formed of weldable material.

11. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer curved spine, two covers hingedly connected, thereto, a flat inner spine, connecting means hingedly connecting said inner spine to said covers, said connecting means being welds extending substantially along the hinge lines between said covers and said outer spine, paperretaining means disposed on said inner spine, said outer spine consisting of semi-rigid weldable material enclosed in flexible weldable material, at least one portion of said outer spine defining an enclosed segment which is characterized by a peripheral line of weakness, so that said enclosed segment can be readily removed to form a window through which a subadjacent indicia bearing strip inserted between the inner and outer spines is visible, said removable enclosed segment being defined by at least one line weld in said outer spine, said line weld surrounding a closed circular area.

12. A binder as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flexible weldable material and said semi-rigid weldable material comprise a synthetic resin.

13. A binder as claimed in claim 12 wherein said resin is polyvinyl chloride. 

1. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer curved spine, two covers hingedly connected thereto, a flat inner spine, connecting means hingedly connecting said inner spine to said covers, said connecting means being welds extending substantially along the hinge lines and between said coVers and said outer spine, paperretaining means disposed on said inner spine, and at least one portion of said outer spine defining an enclosed segment which is characterized by a peripheral line of weakness, so that said enclosed segment can be readily removed to form a window through which a subadjacent indicia bearing strip inserted between said outer and inner spines is visible.
 2. A binder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable enclosed segment is defined by at least one line weld in the outer spine, said line weld surrounding a closed area.
 3. A binder as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral weld extends around said two covers and said line weld is of substantially the same depth as said peripheral weld.
 4. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of removable enclosed segments having the same dimensions.
 5. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of removable enclosed segments, said segments being vertically spaced from each other such that each segment is wholly apart from the other segments.
 6. A binder as claimed in claim 5 wherein said removable enclosed segments all have the same dimensions.
 7. A binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer spine consists of semi-rigid weldable material enclosed in flexible weldable material, said line weld having joined together said material constituting the outer spine.
 8. A binder as described in claim 1, wherein the width of the indicia bearing strip is greater than that of the inner spine so that said strip assumes a curved formation corresponding to the curvature of the outer spine.
 9. A binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is in the form of a circle.
 10. A binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exterior of said covers and inner spine is formed of weldable material.
 11. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer curved spine, two covers hingedly connected thereto, a flat inner spine, connecting means hingedly connecting said inner spine to said covers, said connecting means being welds extending substantially along the hinge lines between said covers and said outer spine, paper-retaining means disposed on said inner spine, said outer spine consisting of semi-rigid weldable material enclosed in flexible weldable material, at least one portion of said outer spine defining an enclosed segment which is characterized by a peripheral line of weakness, so that said enclosed segment can be readily removed to form a window through which a subadjacent indicia bearing strip inserted between the inner and outer spines is visible, said removable enclosed segment being defined by at least one line weld in said outer spine, said line weld surrounding a closed circular area.
 12. A binder as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flexible weldable material and said semi-rigid weldable material comprise a synthetic resin.
 13. A binder as claimed in claim 12 wherein said resin is polyvinyl chloride. 